Uttrakhand Diaries

The clouds thundered during the hours of darkness and I slept scared near the firewood light.

It has been raining since all night. I never experienced this scary noise of the River Ganga before.

My dark room twinkled of the lightning again and again so I closed my eyes tightly and covered a blanket on. I do not remember when I slept, but waking up too wasn’t easy. I looked out of window of my room at the River, water in it was overflowing with speed, and in it I could see many packets of chips and biscuits flowing in the river. Uncle said to me that any shop which was at river side drowned in. Also when I looked more, the vast tress uprooted with their roots were swimming in the river. May be these big tress were fallen from the mountains .Then I spotted few animals drowning. By then I heard the siren of high alerts, helicopters were flying above and it was declared to not come out of the house as high rain was expected in the next one hour. I was scared. The radio news was telling about the number of people died at Kedarnath, the destruction of the whole area and so on. The helicopters that were taking rounds above again and again were for the relief to Kedarnath pilgrims but they couldn’t fly because of continuous rain and dark clouds. Everything in the river moved with high speed, I could easily sense the cruel side of the calming river Ganga. Uttrakhand was over-flooded, and was at risk, mountains and rocks were moving. Ruskin Bond one of my favourite storyteller from childhood who wrote a lot about his experience in the mountains said that I never thought that mountains move but this is thrilling even mountains aren’t permanent. I switched off the news and radio channels now; because they scared me more and did nothing. I was experiencing this at Rishikesh in a room, waiting for some positive thing to happen.

Five days passed without any connectivity, the rain stopped for few hours. So Along with my uncle I went to Dehra and Haridwar sides to explore the places and to try best to help as much as possible. We took two cars in one we were four people and in the other there was driver carrying food packets and other domestic things. As we moved on, I was shocked to see the destruction, our vehicle stopped many times on the way because of collected water. Then we reached the villages, looking at two vehicles coming to their side, all the whole villagers smiled.

All were asked to form a line, they looked at us with hopes .When the packet distribution started they fought with each other to stand first in the line because they were that hungry, however everyone was calmed and said t0 not fight, with the relief that all will get one packet.

While distributing the packets they offered as with so many blessings and disclosed how they faced the situation and didn’t took a bite in mouth, how their kids cried of hunger and how the villagers got sick because of diseases they do not have anything to protect them from the rains because their homes were drowned in the River.

After distributing food, uncle gave them some cards for purchasing the food from the local shops.

The villagers had 180 houses in total, I visited to everyone’s house that day and it opened my eyes.

They also told the other people who were alive in the rain in dark forests who could help us ,but they were least interested in helping us but were busy in money making from the destroyed houses .Hearing this I was shocked .

This side of cruelism gave me a lesson to be kind and never ever give up my humanity .
The height of greediness in people opened my eyes .

The villagers were smiling and eating food and were happiest , their smile gave me a satisfaction, they welcomed me and offered water in Coconut shell.

This was their best they could offer me .I decided to do something for them.

I felt satisfied that day because I could be of some use to that people. Those days just touched my heart. And even now that people remember me when they see me. I visit their village every time I go to Uttrakhand and I am literally thankful to my Uncle who showed me this side of screams and pains to me .

Water level was reached upto Risk pointOverflowing water from mountains after 5-6 days rain stoppedClouds and Water Rise

Primary Sidebar

About Hill Station Reader

Welcome to Hill Station Reader, I am Dixita Mour. I am part time Freelancer and Full Time Blogger. Hill Station Reader is my blogging website where I review the latest books, brands and Fashion or Lifestyle gossips. I believe blogging about good brands is like marketing something good whole heartedly. You can reach me for collaborations on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook page of Hill Station Reader